Cooking unit



W. C. REHM COOKING UNIT Feb. 29, 1944.

Filed April 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5f INVENTOR M/lLL/AM C. /?EHM "QM/ mm; ATTORNEYS Feb. 29, 1944. w. c. REHM 2,342,692

COOKING UNIT Filed April 9, 1

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR VV/LL/AM (T EEHM TORNEYS Patented Feb 29, 1944 2.342.692 cooxmo UNIT William C. Rehm, Meriden, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Manning, Bowman 6 00., Meriden, 001111.,

a corporation of Delaware Application April 9, 1941, Serial No. 387,601

6 Claims.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 307,749, filed December 6, 1939, issued as Patent No. 2,269,480.

This invention relates to cooking utensils and particularly to a unit which may be used for the roasting, broiling, frying and other cooking operations.

One object of the invention is a novel and improved combined cooking unit for the above indicated purposes which is characterized by the ease and facility with which the various cooking operations may be performed.

A further object of the invention is such a unit which is characterized by the safety in operation against burning the user and the table or other support upon which it is supported.

A further object of the invention is a broiler of the above indicated character embodying novel means whereby the broiler cover may be variably supported with respect to the grill for facilitating the cooking operations.

A further object of the invention is a novel and improved handle structure embodying means for variably supporting the cover upon the grill.

A further object of the invention is such a utensil which is characterized by its simplicity in construction and assembly and its low cost in production.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a unit embodying the invention and showing one use thereof;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale thereof;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the unit partly in section indicating another use thereof;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a modification of the invention; and I Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings the invention is illustrated as embodied in a unit comprising a base I, an invertible upper member 2 in the form of a dome-like shell and a grid and broiler rack 3. The base consists of a casing enclosing a dead air space A and formed of a top plate 5 having an annular depending peripheral edge 1 is of imperforate sheet form.

or skirt 4 to which is attached in any suitable manner a lower baille plate 8, and in the particular embodiment shown the baffle plate 8 is provided with a peripheral flange 8' fitting into the peripheral edge of the skirt 4. The top plate 5 has a centrally dished-out part 6 with a shoulder 1 formed at the periphery thereof for a purpose hereinafter described. The top plate 5 carries centrally thereof a supporting and reinforcing arch 9 of thin sheet metal, this arch being fastened to the top plate 5 at the dishedout part 5 in any suitable manner, as, for example, by spot welding the feet i0 formed on the arch to the top plate, the lower portion being fastened to the baffle by a screw ID. This arch forms a supporting brace between the top plate 5 and the bafiie 8 and a means of assembly of the baiile. The base is provided with any suitable supporting feet preferably of'insulating material which are fastened to the battle 8. The battle 8 andfeet H thus form the support for the unit and in the preferred form the baffie plate The grid and rack 3 assembly embodies a grid plate I3 which is supported upon the plate 5 of the base. This grid plate i3 is provided with a curved peripheral edge H corresponding to a similar annular curved seat I5 formed at the juncture of the plate 5 with the skirt 4 with which it mates to hold the grid plate I3 firmly upon the member 5 of the base. The grid plate member I! is provided inwardly of its periphery with an annular shoulder It for the purpose of centering a grid or perforated plate member resting thereon, this grid member resting fiat upon the grid plate l3 and in the particular embodiment shown being a wire rack. This rack comprises a peripheral rim of wire 18 to which the ends of closely spaced parallel wires l9 are secured and to which also the offset ends H of a crosswise reinforcing wire I! are secured. the wires I! in turn being secured to the cross wire I! at each of their mid-points, the whole wire assembly being disposed so that its peripheral rim I8 is adjacent to the shoulder l6 formed in the grid plate. A dot and dash line indicates a steak or the like resting upon this wire rack. The grid plate i3 is provided centrally thereof with a pan or dished out part 20 for catching the drippings. The plate 5 is provided with a shoulder l6, corresponding to the shoulder l5 and these shoulders assist in the centering of the grid plate l3 while the plate 5 is dropped down inwardly of the shoulders It.

It to form an air chamber B between the plates 5 and iii.

The invertible dome-shaped member 2 is provided with an electric heater unit mounted therein in any suitable manner. In the particular embodiment shown this heater unit is spaced centrally from the dome member by a spacer tube '25 and a screw bolt 2? passes through an open ing formedin the heater and is screw-thread edly attached to a holding nut 28 which is inserted through an opening formed centrally or the member 2 and into the spacer tube to. This tube engages a projection 29 formed with or ias= toned to the heater unit 25. The electric heater 25 is provided with an electric plug 3i) connec tion which projects out through an opening in the side of the shell and is protected by a hood 3! suitably fastened to the shell. A heating element of conventional coiled resistance wire iorm (omitted for convenience in illustration) is secured within the labyrinth of the unit 25, and is of two sections with one end of each section terminating in a terminal pin i353 and the other ends joined and secured to a third pin 33 so as to provide high and "low" heats depending upon which pair of terminal pins 35 the plug ongages, the plug being omitted for convenience in illustration. A U-shaped swinging arm 32 hinged at iii to the hood 3i protects the user against accidental contact with the free but energized terminal pin, this arm being disposed within the hood and shiitable over laterally to protect the exposed pin when the plug is in. The shell is provided with a hinge bracket 35 which copper" ates with a hinge bracket be fastened to the side of the base, the bracket carrying pins 85 which are supported in the open fork-like socket bearings 3? formed in the bracket 3%, and the bracket 35 carries a hinge stop member at which engages the bearing surface 39 formed on the side of the bracket 35 to hold the shell in the vertical position as indicated in dot and dash lines Fig. 1.

The upper member 2 is provided with a beaded edge at and the dimensions or the parts are such that the beaded edge in the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 rests upon the grid plate ii at the inner edge of the curved rim iii and the upper member is thereby held and centered in posi tion independently of the bracket 85, aithough the bracket also performs some holding function.

The member 2 may be inverted from the position shown in Figs. 1 to 3 and supported upon the base i as indicated in Fig. i to function as an ordinary cooker or heater for various cook= ing and heating purposes. For this purpose the dome-shaped member 2 is provided with an an= nular seat 32 with a corresponding retaining shoulder 33 for resting upon the shoulder i formed in the base member around the periphery oi the dished-out part as shown in Fig. i. In this position the grid plate and the rack assern bly 3 is wholly removed from the unit. The shell is also provided with suitable ventilation openlugs to on opposite sides thereof.

The dome member 2 is provided with a han die bracket Q5, this bracket being in the form of a cup-shapedmember with peripheral rims riveted at as to the side of the dome member adjacent its peripheral edge and on the diamet= rically opposite side from the bracket 35. A ban die 36 made of wood or any suitable material is fastened to the bracket by means of a tighten ing bolt ill, the latter extending through an openassaooa ing: formed longitudinally of the handle and screw-threadediy engaging an opening formed in the bracket 45 at 38. The handle it is insulated from the bracket 15 by insulating bushings 52 carried by pins 39 which are disposed between the spacer discs 5t, there being three discs in the particular embodiment shown. The outermost disc 59 is provided with a square hole iii for the reception of the squared end projection to of the handle so and, if desired, the other discs 6% may be similarly provided with square openings. This enables tightening of the handle by simply turning the bolt ll without a corresponding turning or the handle it. Thus the user may tighten the handle at any time without difficulty.

The dome-like shell member 2 may be reversed in position at any time for use either as a broiL or or the like as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 ores an ordinary cooker or heater as shown in Fig. 4. This may be effected by simply lifting and in verting the upper member of the unit and re= placing or removing the grid plate and the rash. Since the upper member is curved and dome" shaped at all parts thereof it cannot be inverted as in Fig. 4 and supported stably upon any plane surface as, for example, a table which would be burned thereby. It can only be supported stably by supporting it upon the shoulder l of the base forming a seat for the corresponding seat 62 oi the shell. Accordingly, this unit may be used with proof against accidental resting or tcntional support or the heat unit carrying part of the device upon a table or the like. Also in operation either as a broiler or as an ordinary cooker the utensil may be safely supported upon any table without danger of burning or scorching oi the same. This is due, among other things, to insulation against the transfer oi heat by the dead air chambers A and B, to the reinforcing arch of thin sheet metal which is also efiective in insulating against the transfer oi any heat from the plate member 5 and 5 to the baifie plate 8, to the large heat radiating surface formed by the base member i and also to the insulating feetil.

is pivotally mounted on the lowermost pin 39 at a point between the intermediate pair of discs the thickness of the metal of this segment corresponding approximately to the thickness of the bushings $2. The lowermost edge of this sector bli projects down below the periphery of the bracket 65 and engages the peripheral edge id of the grid plate G8 to support the side of the upper member 2 at variable distances from the grid plate. For this purpose the sector is provided with a multiplicity of supporting points on its lower edge which are disposed at varying radial distances from the axis of the pin dd upon which it is mounted, and in the particular embodiment shown there are two such supporting points 9,842,692 peripheral edge It or the grid,

ment with the plate. As illustrated in full lines, the lug II is I hinge structure 35 and 3B and the handle structure including the variably supported means II, this invertible member may be supported in the cooking position either with the edge 40 resting directly upon the grid plate II or at variable distances therefrom to'provide the desired ventilation during the cooking operation. For instance, with the segments 80 rotated to a position where neither of the supporting lugs 6| or 62 engages the periphery l4 member 2 rests with its peripheral edge 40 engaging the grid plate all the way around. If ventilation is desired during the cooking operation the segment 60 is rotated to a position to support the member 2 the required distance from the grid plate, as for example on the lug I for a small degree 01 ventilation, or upon the lug 62 for a greater degree of ventilation. All these functions are effected by the simple structure shown.

In the appended claims the word "grill is intended to include the entire grid assembly and support therefor.

I claim:

1. In a cooking unit of the type having a heater carrying member and a handle attaching bracket fastened thereto the combination comprising a handle fastened to said bracket, said handle comprising a handle grip having an opening extending therethrough, a holding screw bolt passing through said handle grip and threadedly engaging said bracket and an insulating mount between the handle grip and said bracket comprising a plurality of spaced pins carried by the bracket, a plurality of spacer discs threaded over said pins with spacing bushings threaded over the pins and disposed between the discs, the outermost member of said discs having a non-circular opening formed therein and said handle grip hav ing a corresponding non-circular projection extending down into said opening.

2. In a cooking unit of the type having a man ually manipulatable cooking member and a handle attaching bracket fastened thereto the combination comprising a handle fastened to said abracket, said handle comprising a handle grip having an opening extending therethrough, a holding screw bolt passing through said handle grip and threadably engaging said bracket and an insulating mount between the handle grip and said bracket comprising a plurality oi spaced pins carried by the bracket, a plurality of spacer discs threaded over said pins with spacing bushings threaded over the pins and disposed between the discs, the outermost member of said discs havin a non-circular opening formed therein and said handle grip having a corresponding non-circular projection extending down into said opening.

3. In a cooking unit Of the character set forth, a grill, a manually manipulatable member having a pivotal connection with said grill, a handle attaching bracket fastened to said member at a point opposite from the pivotal connection, a handle fastened to said bracket, said handle comprising a handle grip having an opening extending therethrough, a holding screw bolt passing through said handle grip and threadedly engaging said bracket and an insulating mount between the handle grip and said bracket comprising a plurality of spaced pins carried by the bracket, a plurality of spacer discs threaded over said pins with spacing bushings threaded over the pins and disposed between the discs, the outermost member of said discs having a non-circular opening formed therein and said handle grip having a corresponding non-circular projection extending down into said opening, and a support pivotally .iastened to one or said pins and engaging the of the grid plate, the dome 'ried by said reflector unit at grill for supporting the manipulatable member in spaced relation with the grill. I

4. In a cooking unit of the character set forth a grill, a manually manipulatable member having a pivotal connection with said grill, a handle attachin bracket fastened to said member at a point opposite from the pivotal connection, a handle fastened to said bracket, said handle comprising a handle grip having an opening extending therethrough, a holding screw bolt passing through said handle grip and threadedly engaging said bracket and an insulating mount between the handle grip and said bracket comprising a plurality of spacedpins carried by the bracket, a plurality of spacer discs threaded over said pins with spacing bushings threaded over the pins and disposed between the discs, the outermost member of said discs having a non-circular opening formed therein and said handle grip having a corresponding non-circular projection extending down into said opening, and a support pivotally fastened to one of said pins and engaging the grill for supporting the manipulatable member in spaced relation with the grill, the support being provided with a pluralit of angularly disposed supporting points for engaging the grill and supporting the manipulatable member at distances from the grill varying according to the angular position of the support about its pivot point.

5. In a cooking unit of the character set forth a grill, a reflector member hinged to the grill to permit the reflector member to either rest upon the grill or to be supported in a substantially vertical position with respect thereto, a handle cara point peripherally displaced from the hinge and an adjustable supporting member carried by said handle at a point adjacent the grill and adapted to engage the grill to lift the reflector in cooperation with the hinge from contact with the grill, said supporting member being pivotally attached to the handle and provided with a multiplicity of angularly disposed silDD rtlng points at distances varying from the handle to support the reflector at varying distances according to th angular position oi the support about its pivot.

6, In a cooker oi the character set forth, a base element, an upper element, hinge means on one side or said elements and connecting the same for relatively vertical movement and a segmental support pivotally carried by one of said elements and on the opposite side oi. said element from said hinge means and provided with a multiplicity of supporting parts at varying distances from the pivotal axis of said segmental support which engage the other of said elements and spaces the elements varying distances from each other, said segmental support being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis disposed at right angles means.

WILLIAM C. REHM.

to the axis of the hinge 

